banner photo by Janet Best
“We know that the world is changing and that the new ministry landscape requires innovation. Let’s engage with experts on how to approach digital ministry, ask questions and get answers!”
View week 1 of the Series of Webinars with Tools and Information to Improve Digital Worship for Church Leaders
Presenter: Dr. Jonathan White
Five years ago a photo was published around the world. The image of Alan Kurdi, a small Syrian boy, on a beach, drowned while his family tried to seek safety, spurred a reaction rarely seen. At Action Réfugiés Montréal, journalists contacted us, trying to understand the scope of the Syrian refugee crisis, and, importantly, how people here in Montreal, Hawkesbury, the Laurentians and elsewhere could lend a hand. We shared our expertise on television, radio, and in print. People here in Canada with family members in refugee situations elsewhere also contacted us, trying to find a way to bring their families to Canada. Our phones were overwhelmed with offers to help: furniture, apartments, meals at home, going for coffee, and clothes. Churches and individuals called us, wanting to sponsor Syrian families. Individuals, foundations, and corporations sent us financial donations, often unsolicited. One photo quite unexpectedly created a cavalcade of generosity and caring.
Since then, over 40,000 Syrian refugees have arrived in Canada. They have learned French and/or English. The children are in school. People have found or created jobs. Much has been done, and we are thankful many people are living in safety. But when we talk to some of these folks about this anniversary, it brings tears: reminders of the difficult journey to arrive in Canada, the uncertainty they lived, and the numerous relatives lost due to war or trying to flee. Many here in Canada still have family members living in difficult situations, five years later, and hope that they might be reunited somehow.
Much remains to be done. Many Syrians are still in Syria, many are in neighboring countries. A large cohort live in Lebanon, a country currently in crisis. Children there are lacking nourishment and education. Parents have lost their jobs and means of supporting their families. Many are afraid, lacking money, food, and housing. The Gazette recently reported that the pandemic has increased disparities in Montreal between well-to-do families and newcomers; we know this is also the case for refugeed people in far-away lands. The pandemic caused a temporary halt for over four months, and an extremely harsh, abrupt reduction in the number of arrivals of sponsored refugees this year. People who have already waited years for their files to be processed now are forced to wait even longer, as are those living extended family separation.
And of course, there are not only Syrian people who need protection: organizations like ours have applications for sponsorship from countries like Burundi, Iraq, Eritrea, and Afghanistan, among others. Quebec has greatly reduced the number of sponsorship files accepted. Recently, the allotment for files submitted outside Montreal was not reached. We suggested flexibility to re-apportion the quotas to at least offer sponsorship spaces to the number of people originally planned. Notre gouvernement refused our suggestion, so even fewer people than planned will arrive. A government that can’t seem to acknowledge systemic racism refuses to meet its already miserly low quota for refugee sponsorship. A government that declares thanks to “les anges gardiens” offers permanent residence to some, but sees those who do the cleaning or provide security as not angelic enough.
Five years after the photo was published, our attitude is quite well defined. Gratitude, for the effort put forward by all segments of Canadian society to reach out a hand to refugeed people seeking solutions. Resolve, to continue to advocate for refugee rights, both for refugee claimants and for shorter wait times for sponsorship files. Confidence, in the willingness of our neighbours, including individuals, faith communities, and corporate entities, to continue to support the work of organizations that accompany refugeed people upon their arrival in Canada.
Five years ago a photo of a tragedy inspired so many of us to reach out. We know that compassion and justice for refugeed people will continue to provide hope to people here and far away.
Paul Clarke is Executive Director, and Cathy Nguyen and Emily Woods are Coordinators of the Sponsorship Program at Action Réfugiés Montreal.
Week 1. Friday September 18 10 -11:30 am EST Presenter Dr. Jonathan White
Theme: Music & Worship
Week 2. Friday September 25 10-11:30 am EST Presenters: Jen DeTracey, Tyler Schmidt, Reid Emerson August Bode and Dr. Jonathan White
Theme: Safety & Ethics
Week 3. Friday October 2nd 10-11:30 am EST Presenters: Rev. Dr. Joanne Mercer and Rev Rob Cooke
Theme: Formation & Community
A Message from the Editor
I hope you take the time to read this issue of the Anglican Montreal. As is evident from the front page, the focus is on Black Lives Matter; and the stories within are often deeply personal and moving. I am grateful to those who offered to share their thoughts and experiences of racism here in Quebec... and sometimes here in the Church. I would like to thank Ros Macgregor, who encouraged the (sometimes) reluctant authors to write about a topic that can be painful to confront. And also the Rev'd Stanley Brooks, who provides a fascinating overview of our diocesan history of racial integration in his article, The Evolution of Ethnic Diversity in the Montreal Church. We have so much to learn from each other. I hope the conversation continues.
Nicki Hronjak, Editor
Join Neil Mancor and his guest Gillian Doucet-Campbell from the Diocese of Niagara for the first of a new season of Beyond the Plate coaching calls on Zoom. 10am, Tuesday August 25th.
With the summer coming towards an end, RIGHT NOW is a great opportunity to write a thank you letter to all your donors who have faithfully supported your church all summer long. With our tentative reopening beginning, it is an even greater opportunity to thank those who have hung in there all through the pandemic.
In this conversation we will look at why you need to send out a thank you now, take a look at some great design tips for impactful thank you communications, and together we will write a sample letter you can adapt for your community.
Meeting ID: 816 6365 8407
““What is the need right now around which I’m willing to show you my need and let you basically create something new together to mark, to witness, to invent: start with the need” - Priya Parker”
Like all good things, this is an evolving story! Supper Club has transformed over the years. As an experimental ministry we have tried different approaches. But truth be told, Supper Club gained its sea legs and found her momentum in 2019 once we made a few strategic tweaks and modifications.
We gained clarity by asking questions such as:
What is the need?
Who are we serving?
What is our purpose?
I prayed, listened and consulted on these questions until I felt a stirring to create something new. I sensed that there must be others like me, who are interested in faith and Christian spirituality and wish to explore these ideas outside of the context of the Sunday morning model. It soon became clear that gathering with a shared purpose, with a focus on relationships, scripture, stories, food and prayer was the new direction we were called in.
As a result, we created a community of seekers that actually listens, prays, supports and wonders together. We were blessed by face to face gatherings including prayer and conversation over a meal throughout the Fall and Winter until we were forced to adapt and shifted to digital. Now we are enthusiastically looking forward to hanging out in a park for a socially distanced picnic next week!
What impresses me and makes me most proud of the Supper Club community and its evolution is the ways that we have cared for and supported each other especially in the last 6 months. During this time of global pandemic, we have deepened our connection in both tangible and intangible ways. I personally thank God in prayer every day for this community and how we have enriched each other's lives.
The other day I was walking in NDG and I passed by a church with this quote on the lawn.
“We will never change the world by going to Church
We will only change the world by being the Church”
-unknown
It’s kind of a cliché I know but when I read this I thought about The Supper Club community and this filled me with hope knowing that we have accomplished meaningful acts of friendship, outreach and generosity together, knowing that we have been the church!
I can’t wait to plan, pray and dream about the direction of Supper Club and the ways that we will continue to transform our gatherings with mission, purpose and love this year!
1444 Union Avenue
Montreal, Quebec H3A 2B8
Tel: (514) 843-6577 // 1 (800) 355-3788
Fax: (514) 843 6344
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The Synod Office is located on the traditional and unceded territory of the Kanien’keha:ka (Mohawk), at a place called Tio’tia:ke (Montreal), a meeting place for many First Nations, including the Haudenosaunee (Six Nation Confederacy), Anishinabeg and Algonquin peoples.
We recognize and respect the Kanien’keha:ka as the traditional stewards of the land and waters of Tio’tia:ke.
Our acknowledgement stands as a promise to continue the ongoing work of recognition and reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples.
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©2026 Synod of the Diocese of Montreal & Lord Bishop of Montreal
